RUSSIAN BLOCKADE LEAVES ARMENIA PAPERLESS
By M. Alkhazashvili
(Translated by Tiko Giorgadze)
The Messenger, Georgia
Dec 7 2006
The transport blockade imposed by Russia on Georgia has also isolated
Armenia, and as a somewhat bizarre consequence, Armenia finds itself
about to run out of newsprint paper.
The paper shortage began after Russia imposed a transport blockade
on Georgia in late September, Armenia started to import paper from
the Ukraine, which delivered it by ferry to Georgia and then on to
Armenia. Vrej Markosian, director of the Tigran the Great Yerevan
publishing house, the biggest in Armenia, publishing over 30 magazines
and newspapers, says that due to technical and financial problems,
the paper that was to be delivered is still sitting in the Ukrainian
port of Illychovsk. Unless a new shipment arrives, he warns that the
presses will have to close on December 9.
According to Markosian, it will be very expensive for Armenia to
import paper from Iran and Turkey, reports the newspaper Rezonansi.